Cal's "I don't do journals" Journal

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

SOTD
View attachment 1317584

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Pine Needles
Razor: Wolfman WR2-SB 1.25 GT
Blade: Personna Red (6)
ASL: Chocolate Orange [home brew]

A fine shave.

My new Bignoli "Pine Needles" soap scent, although pleasant, was a bit strong… Mind you, that's what I said about their Licorice and Mint soap which I now love and can easily use daily. So I'll use the Pine Needles for the next few shaves and see how it goes.
I thought I'd show off my Wolfman GT's big bore tailpipe in today's pic.


Happy shaves guys.

Cal, can you compare this soap's performance and behavioral characteristics (not loading, not scent) to Vitos?

Why I'm interested is a question I can't even think about.

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Cal]

Cal, can you compare this soap's performance and behavioral characteristics (not loading, not scent) to Vitos?

It's slicker and more luxurious.

Why I'm interested is a question I can't even think about.

Indeed. Better not to.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Omega 599 Super Badger 22/48
Soap: Bignoli Pine Needles
Razor: Fatip GT
Blade: Personna Red (7)
ASL: Lilac Vegetal

A very pleasant shave.
All is well in ZenShaveLand. Pine Needles and The Veg go really well together.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

⬆ Slant? ⬆

Man, that cap shines!

 

[Cal]

⬆ Slant? ⬆

Nope. Early Mk2 nickel plated Piccolo (except it's now a GT because I changed the handle).

Man, that cap shines!

Ya can't beat hot breath and dry towel magic.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Omega 599 Super Badger 22/48
Soap: Bignoli Pine Needles
Razor: Yuma YM-403 GT
Blade: Personna Red (8)
ASL: Clubman

A most enjoyable shave.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Omega 599 Super Badger 22/48
Soap: Bignoli Pine Needles
Razor: 2020 Gillette Tech [on El Fantasma handle]
Blade: Personna Red (9)
ASL: TFS Mandarino Tachibana

A fine shave.
The Pine Needles and Mandarin Orange scent mix was (and still is) very pleasant.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Omega 599 Super Badger 22/48
Soap: Bignoli Pine Needles
Razor: RazoRock Lupo 95 GT
Blade: Personna Red (1)
ASL: Fine Snake Bite

A very nice shave.
The Snake Bite was eye-wateringly good.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint [scents from Honeydukes]
Razor: Wolfman WR2-SB 1.25 GT
Blade: Personna Red (2)
ASL: Hogwarts Express [home brew]

A magical shave.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

⬆ Points for GT ⬆

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint
Razor: Fine Aluminum Slant GT
Blade: Personna Red (3)
ASL: Chocolate Orange [home brew]

A sweet shave.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: TFS Mandarino Tachibana
Razor: Fine Aluminum Slant GT
Blade: Personna Red (4)
ASL: Orange FREEZE [home brew]

A good shave.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint
Razor: FOCS GT
Blade: Personna Red (5)
ASL: Clubman VIBR

A superb shave.
I'd forgotten how great the FOCS is, and now even better with its custom GT handle.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint
Razor: Phoenix Crimson Ghost
Blade: Personna Red (6)
ASL: Orange FREEZE [home brew]

A good shave.

My first shave with the Crimson Ghost was interesting, and enlightening!

I now realize why the FOCS doesn't clamp the blade completely on the low corners — it's not a design fault, it's intentional (the blade is still torqued enough to be rigid). Shaving the bottom of my sideburns with the FOCS is a breeze. Doing the same with the Crimson Ghost is somewhat of a PITA. The high corner slices through easily, but the low corner needs PRESSURE because the blade exposure and gap is virtually nil. I now understand why so many people shim their Phoenix ABS Slants.

Here's a couple of pics to (hopefully) show what I mean:

End on pic showing blade clamping on the low corners (center of pic):

Top down pic showing the blades minimum reveal at the low corners (top right and bottom left):

DON'T START SHOUTING ABOUT ALIGNMENT!

Most slant razors won't align the blade parallel to the cap. This is to give the blade more reveal and exposure at the high corners and less at the low corners. Of course this is not always the case, but it is with the two babies above.

The correct way to load a slant (IMO) is to lay the cap (bolt up) on the counter, drop the blade on (no pressing with fingers), drop the baseplate on (no pressing with fingers) and gently screw the handle on (don't worry if there are strange noises). This will fix the blade in the correct position... and (when done) if it looks wrong, it's right.

BTW, thanks to @Crisp Rat for unknowingly making me use my Crimson Ghost for the first time (I really got it just for the light handle, being an LHF).


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint
Razor: FOCS GT
Blade: Personna Red (7)
ASL: Clubman Whiskey Woods

A very pleasant shave.
All is well in ZenShaveLand.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint [scents from Honeydukes]
Razor: FOCS GT
Blade: Personna Red (8)
ASL: Hogwarts Express [home brew]
Another magical shave.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint
Razor: FOCS GT
Blade: Personna Red (9)
ASL: Chocolate Orange [home brew]

An excellent shave.
Today's team were on great form.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: Bignoli Licorice and Mint
Razor: Wolfman WR2-SB 1.25 GT
Blade: Personna Red (1)
ASL: Licorice and Mint Shocker [home brew]

A very good shave.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Cal]

SOTD

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: La Toja
Razor: Fine Slant GT
Blade: Personna Red (2)
ASL: Clubman Whiskey Woods

A fine shave.


Happy shaves guys.

 

[Raven Koenes]

SOTD
View attachment 1325465

Brush: Shavemac 20/48 Silvertip 2-Band
Soap: La Toja
Razor: Fine Slant GT
Blade: Personna Red (2)
ASL: Clubman Whiskey Woods

A fine shave.


Happy shaves guys.

I can't wait to try La Toja. Actually I can. Next week will be LEA Menthol. The week after is La Toja. Maybe, I'll throw some Clubman on top of it. That sounds good.